EICMA 2019: IN MEDIO STAT VIRTUS
Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening or Night, wherever you are.
How are you Fellas?
November again, and this means only one thing: EICMA TIME!
Well, last year we talked about the new generation of V-Twins in V for VTWIN. The year before was the time of The Battle of V4 Armies.
For sure all interesting stuff. But..
But this year, to save you tears, I will give you something special.
What?
A moderate and mild selection of mid-sized bikes showed during the International Cycle Motorcycle and Accessorize Expo.
I know, you love the 200hp bikes, the killer tires. The beasts.
But with this ongoing eco-crisis (economic and ecologic), the Brexit, and the taxes, the mid-sized bikes could be the best choice.
And this thesis seems to be validated by an ancient quote, that still echoes in my mind:
Well, here for you the most interesting Middle-Class Bike, built to face the crisis, they put on the side of the scale the lightweight, spicy engines and tasty designs.
They come from all over the world, under the globalization wings, faithfull to the rule: if it's good in India, or USA, or Japan or China, it's good everywhere.
Let's start our trip with Italy. Of course.
More specifically Borgo Panigale, of course again.
You know, I love Ducati and this year they brought two pieces very attractive in this segment.
First of all the Scrambler 800 Icon Dark, which reflects the basis of "Dark models": a minimal Scrambler, in matt black livery that loses all the unnecessary stuff gaining charm and allure.
Saving money, probably the most important aspect.
73Hp at 8250rpm, 67Nm at 5750rpm and 173kg, for only 8390€.
But the real news is the Scrambler Motard Concept. The usual DesmoDue 803cc engine is dressed with a time traveler design that matches the motard style with the classic lines of the tank.
Past and future also meet in the front view, with the typical round light and the innovative TFT display.
And don't miss advanced e-Helps like ABS cornering and TC Evo. Yeah, it's a concept, but I believe that we will see it very soon on our streets.
Not so far from Ducati, we can take a look at the new sport-touring bike made in MotoMorini.
The X-Cape it's an ADV bike that dreams to ride far from home. It's also called crossover bike, where the 19" and 17" wheels meet the massive front fairing.
With its 649cc parallel-twin engine it's a good solution for everyone dreams an all-round bike, at a cheap price.
Maranello, a city that's synonymous with high performance. Red high performance on 4 wheels. But it's just been a while that a small factory, with huge ideals, settled down there producing one of the most exciting sportbikes. Vins, and it does it on its way: could it sounds anachronistic, but it follows the two-stroke way. In a modern and politically correct way: no carburetors, but with an advanced high press ignition system.
Their 250 Competizione it's strange, with unique and groundbreaking solutions like the monocoque seat-tank in carbon fiber or the Hossack-style front suspension.
75Hp and only 102Kg, for this amazing (also street legal) old-styled sportbike.
And this year Vins guys present the Vins Electric.
Ah, l'Italia, we could whisper. Why? Because another important news comes from Aprilia.
Do you remember the last concept showed during EICMA 2018? The RS660?
Well, now it's an amazing reality: in is last street-legal dress. Some details come from the RS-GP, like the winglets built in the fairing, some come from the RSV4, like the family feeling lights in the front area.
The engine is the V4 1100 cut off of the back cylinders. A parallel-twin of 660cc able of 100Hp. Ah, the weight it's a real surprise: 169Kg in dry weight specs!
And in its RS250 livery is totally astonishing.
Italy again: but now we have to take a long ride to reach Pesaro: sea, beach, food and the pillar of the Motorcycle Golden Era. I'm talking about Benelli.
And this year the brand with the lion plays hard: not with a fast and furious bike, but with a wise model, that will help to grow the factory in the mid-sized bike area.
Last year we enjoyed the Leoncino 500.
Now it's time to see the new Leoncino 800, equipped with a modern parallel-twin of 754cc: 81Hp and 67Nm at 6700rpm. It's a smart bike, made some interesting solution, like the trellis frame on display, the Marzocchi forks, and the double-sided high exhausts.
Good job Benelli!
"Images of shining bikes dance before me like a million eyes,
they call me on and on across the universe"
Or across the World? Or across the Halls?
Cause in a blink we are in India, or a royal seat, nestled a noble frame.
Royal Enfield.
Here for you the aristocratic but humble for sure TWINS FT.
Equipped with the well known 650cc parallel-twin pumped till 750cc by the S&S Cycle, a handmade frame from Harris Performance, 41mm forks and Ohlins rear shock it's simply a work of art.
Yeah, it's a concept, I know, but dreams are free, and I want to imagine a street-legal future for this bike, like what happened for Indian with their FTR750/1200.
The second concept it's a race-ready bike, equipped with the stock 650 parallel-twin of series.
Harris Performance signed also here the chassis and the swingarm.
And last, but not least, a smart proposal:
for 5400€ you can buy this piece of story on two wheels, the Royal Enfield Bullet Trials.ù
A dual bike that winks to the ol' offroad.
A 498cc single mono, 27Hp and 190Kg wet weight. Amazing.
Blink again and we are in Japan. Honda, or better Onda, Italianized like the new concept CB4X, where the CBR650 has been bred with an enduro/touring bike.
Designed by Valerio Aiello from the Honda Italia R&D department, it could represent a great stylistic exercise and a beautiful alternative.
Blink again, Tracer Time. And Yamaha presents the new Tracer700. new design, now closer to the dual bike Tenerè, showed last year.
Equipped with the new Euro5 parallel-twin of 689cc the new sport-touring of Iwata is now a wise motorcycle with a clever price of 8090€: 75Hp at 8750rpm, 68Nm at 6500rpm, and a wet weight of 196Kg.
Back in Europe to take a look at the middle-class heroes brought by KTM/HUSKY.
Starting with the orange one, KTM decided to give a tonic cure to the Duke, and like a spell, the 790 become the Duke 890.
Now with more power, Euro5 ready and with 121Hp and only 166Kg, the new Duke got taut lines and a real race charme. At the top of this middle-class bike, the cost reflects the al of these contents: 11900€ for the Super Scalpel.
Husky Time: and if the Austrian cousins used the new 890cc parallel-twin on a naked bike, the Swedish family decided to use it on the new Norden, an ADV bike that winks to the rally and desert marathon.
It's still a concept.
A lot of concept bikes, right.
But we have to not forget that next year will run the new Euro5, and all of these new proposals are only the appetizer!
Ah, almost forget. Stay tuned for the Strange Beasts that I've seen in Eicma!
How are you Fellas?
November again, and this means only one thing: EICMA TIME!
For sure all interesting stuff. But..
But this year, to save you tears, I will give you something special.
What?
A moderate and mild selection of mid-sized bikes showed during the International Cycle Motorcycle and Accessorize Expo.
I know, you love the 200hp bikes, the killer tires. The beasts.
But with this ongoing eco-crisis (economic and ecologic), the Brexit, and the taxes, the mid-sized bikes could be the best choice.
And this thesis seems to be validated by an ancient quote, that still echoes in my mind:
IN MEDIO STAT VIRTUS
They come from all over the world, under the globalization wings, faithfull to the rule: if it's good in India, or USA, or Japan or China, it's good everywhere.
Let's start our trip with Italy. Of course.
More specifically Borgo Panigale, of course again.
You know, I love Ducati and this year they brought two pieces very attractive in this segment.
First of all the Scrambler 800 Icon Dark, which reflects the basis of "Dark models": a minimal Scrambler, in matt black livery that loses all the unnecessary stuff gaining charm and allure.
73Hp at 8250rpm, 67Nm at 5750rpm and 173kg, for only 8390€.
But the real news is the Scrambler Motard Concept. The usual DesmoDue 803cc engine is dressed with a time traveler design that matches the motard style with the classic lines of the tank.
And don't miss advanced e-Helps like ABS cornering and TC Evo. Yeah, it's a concept, but I believe that we will see it very soon on our streets.
Not so far from Ducati, we can take a look at the new sport-touring bike made in MotoMorini.
The X-Cape it's an ADV bike that dreams to ride far from home. It's also called crossover bike, where the 19" and 17" wheels meet the massive front fairing.
Maranello, a city that's synonymous with high performance. Red high performance on 4 wheels. But it's just been a while that a small factory, with huge ideals, settled down there producing one of the most exciting sportbikes. Vins, and it does it on its way: could it sounds anachronistic, but it follows the two-stroke way. In a modern and politically correct way: no carburetors, but with an advanced high press ignition system.
And this year Vins guys present the Vins Electric.
Ah, l'Italia, we could whisper. Why? Because another important news comes from Aprilia.
Do you remember the last concept showed during EICMA 2018? The RS660?
Well, now it's an amazing reality: in is last street-legal dress. Some details come from the RS-GP, like the winglets built in the fairing, some come from the RSV4, like the family feeling lights in the front area.
And in its RS250 livery is totally astonishing.
Italy again: but now we have to take a long ride to reach Pesaro: sea, beach, food and the pillar of the Motorcycle Golden Era. I'm talking about Benelli.
And this year the brand with the lion plays hard: not with a fast and furious bike, but with a wise model, that will help to grow the factory in the mid-sized bike area.
Last year we enjoyed the Leoncino 500.
Good job Benelli!
"Images of shining bikes dance before me like a million eyes,
they call me on and on across the universe"
Or across the World? Or across the Halls?
Cause in a blink we are in India, or a royal seat, nestled a noble frame.
Royal Enfield.
Here for you the aristocratic but humble for sure TWINS FT.
Equipped with the well known 650cc parallel-twin pumped till 750cc by the S&S Cycle, a handmade frame from Harris Performance, 41mm forks and Ohlins rear shock it's simply a work of art.
The second concept it's a race-ready bike, equipped with the stock 650 parallel-twin of series.
And last, but not least, a smart proposal:
for 5400€ you can buy this piece of story on two wheels, the Royal Enfield Bullet Trials.ù
A 498cc single mono, 27Hp and 190Kg wet weight. Amazing.
Blink again and we are in Japan. Honda, or better Onda, Italianized like the new concept CB4X, where the CBR650 has been bred with an enduro/touring bike.
Blink again, Tracer Time. And Yamaha presents the new Tracer700. new design, now closer to the dual bike Tenerè, showed last year.
Back in Europe to take a look at the middle-class heroes brought by KTM/HUSKY.
Starting with the orange one, KTM decided to give a tonic cure to the Duke, and like a spell, the 790 become the Duke 890.
Husky Time: and if the Austrian cousins used the new 890cc parallel-twin on a naked bike, the Swedish family decided to use it on the new Norden, an ADV bike that winks to the rally and desert marathon.
A lot of concept bikes, right.
But we have to not forget that next year will run the new Euro5, and all of these new proposals are only the appetizer!
Ah, almost forget. Stay tuned for the Strange Beasts that I've seen in Eicma!
